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Abstract:

A wireless keyboard comprises at least a keystroke each comprising a
first resonating circuit for responsing a first wireless signal to
provide a power source, a chip storing a key data, and a switch coupled
between the first resonating circuit and the chip for conducting a
connection between the first resonating circuit and the chip when
receiving an external force, to transmit the power source provided by the
first resonating circuit to the chip, such that the chip outputs the key
data as a second wireless signal via the first resonating circuit, and a
reader coupled to a computer system for emitting the first wireless
signal to the each keystroke and responsing the second wireless signal
outputted by the each keystroke, so as to determine commands inputted to
the computer system.

Claims:

1. A wireless keyboard for a computer system, comprising: at least a
keystroke, each comprising: a first resonating circuit, for responsing a
first wireless signal to generate an induced electromotive force and
provide a power source; a chip, for storing a key data; and a switch,
coupled between the first resonating circuit and the chip, for conducting
a connection between the first resonating circuit and the chip when
receiving an external force, to transmit the power source provided by the
first resonating circuit to the chip, such that the chip outputs the key
data as a second wireless signal via the first resonating circuit; and a
reader, coupled to the computer system, for emitting the first wireless
signal to the each keystroke and responsing the second wireless signal
outputted by the each keystroke, so as to determine commands inputted to
the computer system.

2. The wireless keyboard of claim 1, wherein the chip of the each
keystroke comprises a key data updating unit for receiving a control
signal to update the key data stored in the chip.

3. The wireless keyboard of claim 1, wherein each of the at least a
keystroke further comprises: a base plate, for deploying the first
resonating circuit, the chip and the switch; and a key cap, covering the
base plate, for switching the switch.

4. The wireless keyboard of claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises a
fastening structure or a binding structure, for connecting a base plate
of another keystroke or fixing the base plate.

5. The wireless keyboard of claim 1, wherein the reader comprises: a
second resonating circuit; and a signal transceiving circuit, coupled to
the second resonating circuit, for emitting the first wireless signal via
the second resonating circuit, or responsing the second wireless signal
via the second resonating circuit.

6. A computer system, comprising: a host; and a wireless keyboard,
comprising: at least a keystroke, each comprising: a first resonating
circuit, for responsing a first wireless signal to generate an induced
electromotive force and provide a power source; a chip, for storing a key
data; and a switch, coupled between the first resonating circuit and the
chip, for conducting a connection between the first resonating circuit
and the chip when receiving an external force, to transmit the power
source provided by the first resonating circuit to the chip, such that
the chip outputs the key data as a second wireless signal via the first
resonating circuit; and a reader, coupled to the host, for emitting the
first wireless signal to the each keystroke and responsing the second
wireless signal outputted by the each keystroke, so as to determine
commands inputted to the computer system.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the chip of the each keystroke
comprises a key data updating unit for receiving a control signal to
update the key data stored in the chip.

8. The computer system of claim 6, wherein each of the at least a
keystroke further comprises: a base plate, for deploying the first
resonating circuit, the chip and the switch; and a key cap, covering the
base plate, for switching the switch.

9. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the base plate comprises a
fastening structure or a binding structure, for connecting a base plate
of another keystroke or fixing the base plate.

10. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the reader comprises: a
second resonating circuit; and a signal transceiving circuit, coupled to
the second resonating circuit, for emitting the first wireless signal via
the second resonating circuit, or responsing the second wireless signal
via the second resonating circuit.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a wireless keyboard and computer
system, and more particularly, to a wireless keyboard and computer system
having the flexibility of keystroke allocation to enhance convenience of
usage.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In a computer system, a keyboard is one of the most essential input
devices, and is composed of a plurality of keystrokes. Each of the
keystrokes generates a key value or a key code when pressed, such that a
keyboard controller of the computer system can determine input signals of
a user. For example, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a laptop 10
according to the prior art. The laptop 10 includes a keyboard 100, which
has a plurality of keystrokes related to different key codes.

[0005] In the keyboard 100, relative positions of the keystrokes are
fixed, and a key value (or definition) of a keystroke is also fixed;
therefore, a user cannot arbitrarily adjust the positions of the
keystrokes, add more keystrokes, and needless to say, define the key
value of each keystroke. In other words, the conventional keyboard is not
allowed for the user to adjust the position or key value of each
keystroke, and to add or remove keystrokes.

[0006] Moreover, a conventional wired keyboard requires operating power
supplied by a computer system, and if wirelessly transmitting the key
values is requested, a wireless transmitting module and a power storage
device, such as battery, are required to ensure normal operation. Under
such a condition, if the battery runs out of electricity, the wireless
keyboard suspends, affecting convenience of usage.

[0007] As can be seen, the prior art keyboard lacks of flexibility of
keystroke allocation and cannot meet a user's demand for adjusting the
positions or key values of the keystrokes, and adding or removing
keystrokes. In addition to the above drawbacks, the prior art wireless
keyboard further requires a power storage device, which may be out of use
due to battery power insufficiency, affecting convenience of usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to
provide a wireless keyboard and a computer system.

[0009] The present invention discloses a wireless keyboard for a computer
system, which comprises at least a keystroke and a reader. Each of the at
least a keystroke comprises a first resonating circuit for responsing a
first wireless signal to generate an induced electromotive force and
provide a power source, a chip for storing a key data, and a switch
coupled between the first resonating circuit and the chip for conducting
a connection between the first resonating circuit and the chip when
receiving an external force, to transmit the power source provided by the
first resonating circuit to the chip, such that the chip outputs the key
data as a second wireless signal via the first resonating circuit. The
reader is coupled to the a computer system, and utilized for emitting the
first wireless signal to the each keystroke and responsing the second
wireless signal outputted by the each keystroke, so as to determine
commands inputted to the computer system.

[0010] The present invention further discloses a computer system,
comprises a host and a wireless keyboard. The wireless keyboard comprises
at least a keystroke and a reader. Each of the at least a keystroke
comprises a first resonating circuit for responsing a first wireless
signal to generate an induced electromotive force and provide a power
source, a chip for storing a key data, and a switch coupled between the
first resonating circuit and the chip for conducting a connection between
the first resonating circuit and the chip when receiving an external
force, to transmit the power source provided by the first resonating
circuit to the chip, such that the chip outputs the key data as a second
wireless signal via the first resonating circuit. The reader is coupled
to the a computer system, and utilized for emitting the first wireless
signal to the each keystroke and responsing the second wireless signal
outputted by the each keystroke, so as to determine commands inputted to
the computer system.

[0011] These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt
become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is
illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a laptop according to the prior
art.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard according to
an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are schematic diagrams of explosion,
combination, and cutaway view of the keystroke shown in FIG. 2.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard according to
an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard according to
an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] To improve the drawbacks of the prior art keyboard, the present
invention utilizes a radio frequency identification (RFID) technique to
realize a wireless keyboard, which is allowed to change positions or key
values of keystrokes, or to add or remove keystrokes. Firstly, the RFID
technique is a non-contact automatic recognition technique, and mainly
composed of an electric tag, a reader and a related application system.
The electric tag works as a transponder, and is composed of a chip
including analog, digital and memory functionalities, and an antenna
designed for various frequencies and application environments. The reader
is mainly composed of an analog control unit, a digital control unit, a
micro-processing unit and a set of reading antennas. The application
system is a middleware, for retrieving or receiving internal digital
information of the electric tag through a wired or a wireless method, and
utilizing the information coordinated with various application
requirements to perform further processes. The RFID system has the
advantages of non-contact reading, data renewable, high data storage
capacity, reusable, high data security, and small volume of the RFID
chip, so that the present invention applies the RFID technique to a
wireless keyboard, for improving the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0018] Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of a wireless
keyboard 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
wireless keyboard 20 is used in a computer system 200, and includes a
reader 202 and keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n. The reader 202 is coupled to the
computer system 200, and composed of a signal transceiving circuit 204
and a resonating circuit 206. The signal transceiving circuit 204 emits
wireless signals through the resonating circuit 206 to the keystrokes
PAD_1-PAD_n, or inducts the wireless signals output from the keystrokes
PAD_1-PAD_n, to determine the contents of commands inputted to the
computer system 200. The keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n are composed of the
resonating circuits RNC_1-RNC_n, chips CHIP_1-CHIP_n and switches
SW_1-SW_n respectively. Operating principles of the keystrokes
PAD_1-PAD_n are substantially the same. Therefore, for sake of clarity,
the following description takes the keystroke PAD_1 as an example. The
resonating circuit RNC_1 can induct wireless signals output from the
resonating circuit 206, so that the resonating circuit RNC_1 and the
frequency resonating circuit 206 are coupled to each other via an
alternating current (AC) magnetic field, and such coupling triggers the
resonating circuit RNC_1 to generate an induced electromotive force,
providing adequate power source for the chip CHIP_1 to work, and making
the reader 202 and the keystroke PAD_1 capable of performing
bi-directional communication. The chip CHIP_1 stores a key data or key
value, and can read and output the key data when power is supplied for
the chip CHIP_1. The switch SW_1 is coupled between the resonating
circuits RNC_1 and the chip CHIP_1, and can conduct an electric
connection between the resonating circuit RNC_1 and the chip CHIP_1 when
the switch SW_1 is pressed by an external force, so as to conduct power
source provided by the resonating circuit RNC_1 to the chip CHIP_1, so
that the chip CHIP_1 can output the stored key data as wireless signals
through the resonating circuit RNC_1, and send the wireless signals out
to the reader 202.

[0019] In brief, the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n are similar to a variety of
electric tags in an RFID system, while the difference is that the
keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n induct the wireless signals from the reader 202
only when the switches SW_1-SW_n are pressed, and reply the stored key
data in the chips CHIP_1-CHIP_n accordingly. In other words, when a user
presses a keystroke, the reader 202 will receive the key data or key
value stored in the keystroke, and will not receive key data or key
values stored in other keystrokes.

[0020] In addition, in the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n, the key data stored in
the chips CHIP_1-CHIP_n can be preset in the system or defined by a user.
If "defined by the user" is required, the chips CHIP_1-CHIP_n can
respectively include a key data updating unit or a corresponding
firmware, for receiving control signals output from the user for updating
the stored key data. However, the updating method is not limited to
specific processes. For example, in an embodiment, the computer system
200 includes a key value configuration software, which can be executed by
the user to send a key value configuration command through the signal
transceiving circuit 204 to a specific keystroke, so that the key data
updating unit of the specific keystroke can update the stored key value
accordingly. Under such a condition, the user can arbitrary set the key
value of each keystroke; for example, the user can store his/her name,
phone number and address in various chips, and when the user needs to
input some of these data, the user can quickly finish the inputting
process; thus, efficiency is improved.

[0021] Moreover, since the wireless keyboard 20 adopts the RFID technique,
the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n are powered by the reader 202 using the method
of AC magnetic field coupling. In other words, the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n
are not required to include physical wires or connect to power supplies.
Under such a condition, the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n can be designed as
independent pieces respectively, namely mechanically independent
elements, such that flexibility of keystroke allocation is greatly
improved accordingly.

[0022] For example, please refer to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C, which are
schematic diagrams of explosion, combination, and cutaway view of a
keystroke PAD_x of the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n. As illustrated in FIG. 3A
to FIG. 3C, a resonating circuit RNC_x of the keystroke PAD_x and a chip
CHIP_x are disposed on a base plate BRD_x; a switch SW_x includes a
flexible structure, and is covered by a key cap KH_x with a specific
symbol painted to represent key data of the keystroke PAD_x. As a result,
when a user presses the key cap KH_x, the switch SW_x is triggered to
conduct the resonating circuit RNC_x and the chip CHIP_x.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C, the keystroke PAD_x does not
need to connect with the other keystrokes or the reader 202 in view of
either the structure or the electric circuitry, and therefore, the
keystroke PAD_x can be independently allocated. Certainly, for
convenience of usage, fastening structures such as hooks or tenons, or
binding structures such as backing adhesive or magnetic materials can be
added, in order to fix the keystroke PAD_x to the other keystrokes or an
object. For example, the four sides of the base plate BRD_x can include
fastening structures that can hook other base plates, such that the base
plate BRD_x and the base plates of the other keystrokes can be fixed
together. Or, the button of the base plate BRD_x can coated with backing
adhesive or magnetic materials, such that the base plate BRD_x can stick
on a plane surface or a metal surface. As a result, a user can easily
allocate the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n.

[0024] On the other hand, the main concept of the present invention is to
use the RFID technique, such that the wireless keyboard 20 can meet the
user's demand for adjusting positions or key values of the keystrokes,
and adding or removing keystrokes; meanwhile, the wireless keyboard 20
does not require power storage devices such as batteries, so as to
enhance convenience of usage. Besides, those skilled in the art can make
modifications accordingly. For example, because a inductive distance of a
passive RFID technique is restricted, if the inductive distance is
required to be extended, independent power sources can be further settled
for the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n, and the passive RFID technique becomes a
semi-passive or an active radio RFID technique, in order to extend the
distance for use. Shapes of the keystrokes PAD_1-PAD_n are not restricted
to squares, and can be long straps, circles, etc. Or, the keystrokes
PAD_1-PAD_n can be classified into various blocks according to the
functionalities, e.g. number blocks or character blocks.

[0025] Moreover, the computer system 200 represents all types of computer
systems that can receive data inputted by a user, such as a laptop, a
tablet, a smart phone or a PDA. According to various applications, a
designer can properly adjust appearance or manufacturing of the wireless
keyboard 20 according to system requirements. For example, FIG. 4 is a
schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard 40 according to an embodiment of
the present invention. The wireless keyboard 40 is derived from the
wireless keyboard 20, and basic structures of the wireless keyboard 40
and the wireless keyboard 20 are identical. The wireless keyboard 40 is
used for a PC system; therefore, a reader 400 thereof connects with the
host through physical wires, while keystrokes are allocated in an area
402 according to user's demand.

[0026] Furthermore, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard
50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless
keyboard 50 is derived from the wireless keyboard 20, and the basic
structures of the wireless keyboard 50 and the wireless keyboard 20 are
identical. The wireless keyboard 50 is used for a laptop system;
therefore, a reader 500 thereof is disposed in a host (i.e., a chassis of
the laptop system), and keystrokes are allocated in an area 502 on the
chassis or an area 504 surrounding the area 502 according to user's
demand.

[0027] The prior art keyboard lacks of flexibility of keystroke allocation
and cannot meet the user's demand for adjusting the positions or key
values of the keystrokes, and adding or removing keystrokes. In addition
to the above drawbacks, the prior art wireless keyboard requires a power
storage device, which may be out of use due to battery power
insufficiency, affecting convenience of usage. In comparison, the
wireless keyboard of the present invention can meet the user's demand for
adjusting keystroke allocation or key values, and adding or removing
keystrokes; and meanwhile, the wireless keyboard of the present invention
does not require a power storage device such as battery, which further
enhance convenience of usage.

[0028] In conclusion, the wireless keyboard of the present invention has
the flexibility of keystroke allocation, to enhance convenience of usage.

[0029] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while
retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above
disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of
the appended claims.